Skanect is a new affordable, easy to use tool that allows users to capture a full color 3D model of an object, a person or a room.

Skanect transforms your Microsoft Kinect or Asus Xtion camera into an ultra-low cost scanner able to create 3D meshes out of real scenes in a few minutes. It leverages consumer-grade 3D cameras, thereby limiting the hardware cost to a fraction of the cost of previous scanning solutions.

It’s also as simple to use as a point-and-shoot camera – just move around your 3D camera to capture a full set of viewpoints, and you will get a mesh at interactive speeds.

For a personal and hobbyist use, you can even download a free version of Skanect! Check it out using the link below.

Today’s featured shack shows how Reality Control’s new software, ‘control:mapper’ enables you to interact with existing games and applications using your Microsoft Kinect and a Windows 7 or 8 PC

‘control:mapper’ allows you to assign any combination of keys and mouse control to defined gestures, or virtual triggers located in the space around your body, allowing you to direct the action in your PC using nothing but your body.

One of the good things about ‘control:mapper’ is that it makes software more accessible for people who may be physically disabled. It does this by customizing control to suit each individual’s specific needs. The software also automatically detects and adjusts for whether you are standing or seated.

The Institute for Energy Technology in Norway has used the Microsoft Kinect to create a virtual reality interface to explore and interact with virtual equipment. This could be used for instance in training to understand and maintain equipment.

The interaction consists of a Kinect as well as a mouse button used for selecting virtual objects, which allows for a rich interaction repertory and simple interaction. With this setup, the user can manipulate virtual objects to move, rotate and take components apart.
These virtual equipment mock-ups lets users get hands-on experience with the equipment, and allows for practice of assembly and disassembly tasks.

It’s a great example of how the Kinect can be used to create more interesting learning tools that can keep an audience engaged. We’re looking forward to seeing more displays like this.

We’ve noticed that performance artists have really connected with the Kinect. A lot of cool new music and dances are being created with the help of Microsoft’s little miracle machine. Today’s hack is no different.

The Rangeinet is a self-contained multimedia instrument. It uses an IR camera to sense the objects in front of it, assigns object positions and sizes to musical parameters, and then projects onto those objects as they are sonified.

The instrument can scan across the X, Y, or Z axes, and derives the bounds and centers of each object across all three dimensions. It can scan across a dimension for momentary values, or scan by whole discrete objects. The scan path can be smooth or jagged and quanitzed to create regularized rhythms. Both synthetic and sampled instruments are available, as are delay effects and percussive elements.

Learn more about The Rangeinet at developer Dan Iglesia’s website. We’ve got the link for you below.